Duncan Swinhoe’s Post

In this piece, I explore the relentless expansion of the modern city, where towering structures and endless streets have replaced the natural world. The accompanying watercolour captures the contrast—soft blues evoking the fleeting remnants of nature amidst the hard edges of the urban sprawl. Together, they reflect on the delicate balance between progress and what we’ve left behind. https://lnkd.in/eJf8XYfh

In 1987, San Francisco commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge with an event called "Bridgewalk '87". The crowd was a mammoth 800,000 who flocked to the iconic landmark to celebrate its legacy. With such a turnout, it turned out that people thronged the iconic bridge that was the epitome of San Francisco's heritage in an unprecedented moment in its history. Due to the large number of visitors, the bridge experienced something rare in its history: because of the weight of so many people, its ordinary curved shape flattened and dropped seven feet. This unexpected and somewhat alarming visual change resulted in massive concern, including potential damage to the structure itself. However, one of the finest engineers of his time reassured the public that the sag did not make the bridge unsafe. Instead, he said, "The bridge is not overstressed; thus, it will not collapse immediately.". This historic event underlined not only the love people have for the Golden Gate Bridge but also the resilience of this architectural marvel. "Bridgewalk '87" remains a unique milestone in its history, proving the bridge's ability to endure even extraordinary circumstances. . . . #GoldenGateBridge #Bridgewalk87 #SanFrancisco #EngineeringMarvel #BridgeAnniversary #GoldenGateHistory #StructuralIntegrity #IconicLandmarks #HistoricalEvents #BridgeEngineering #SanFranciscoEvents #ArchitecturalWonders #GoldenGateCelebration #BridgeDesign #CaliforniaLandmarks #Tribunetrends

Who built New York City & how? On our blog, read an interview with Alexander Wood, author of BUILDING THE METROPOLIS, a sweeping history of New York that chronicles the construction of one of the world’s great cities:

Great Take on American #Urbanism: Michael Natelli https://lnkd.in/dsFtRDjX Fixing the Fugly: A Distinctly American Urbanism Alright, let's call it like it is. Most of America’s built environment is, well, pretty ugly. Strip malls, gas stations & parking lots. We took a bad idea & said, "Yeah, let’s do that everywhere" And we didn't just stop there. We exported this model globally. We may have given the world Taylor Swift & Star Wars, but we also gave them the suburban sprawl as the ultimate American dream. Not our best work. Reversing it all feels like trying to shove toothpaste back into the tube. America is the 3rd largest country by area with a huge chunk covered in these suburban patterns we’ve been developing for over 60 years. The logistics of a complete reset are mind-boggling, not to mention the astronomical costs. Perhaps we’re in too deep. But what if we’re not, and we could turn this ship around? What if we could innovate our way out of this mess & turn it into something to be proud of? What if the relics of the suburban experiment could become the raw material for a thriving, uniquely American urbanism? America’s the land of the Extreme Home Makeover. The Fixer Upper. If Chip & Jo can turn broken barn wood into a door, why can’t we make our gas stations & car washes into the proverbial kitchen tables of our next great places? Tattooing Over Our Scars The challenge in reshaping America’s built environment is not just the sprawling subdivisions we’ve built across the nation. It’s the rest of what comes with them: gas stations, parking lots, etc. Any sort of rebuild will require embracing these structures as raw material for innovation. These are the scars of our past & it’s time to get the epic tattoo that makes us wear those scars with more confidence. We’ll carry these scars with us, but they’ll just look a little different. What if we gave these places a second life & integrated them into a new chapter? Miami did with its underpass park, The Underline, 120 acres of previously undesirable & unused land is now accessible to walk, bike & more. What about sterile big box retail stores & commercial strip malls? What if in a see of sprawling subdivisions, these became the first parts of town to become truly flourishing neighborhoods? These transformations are not just about aesthetics. They bring tangible economic & social benefits. Revitalized spaces attract new businesses, create jobs & increase property values. They foster community by providing places for people to gather, relax & engage with their neighbors. And building places we can be proud of doesn't require a blank canvas. While some of what we've done should stay in the past, much of it is known for. Our current cultural moment has depressed our belief in what this nation is capable of, but the opportunity is still there for the taking. What if we could build an American urbanism that gives the playbook for undoing the suburban experiment around the world?

Our tall buildings quiz is back! 🏗️ After inspirational talks at the Tall Buildings Conference in June, we learned more about how planning of tall buildings within London's Square Mile works. Our question for you today is: 🤔 Which 2 historical listed buildings have protected pathways to maintain their views? Let us know below ⬇️ #TallBuildingsQuiz #London #SquareMile

𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘁: 𝗔 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 How do you create something that truly stands out? We believe every project is an opportunity to make a difference. The Mace Parking Lot in Eagle, ID isn’t just a place to park—it’s a thoughtfully designed space that connects the community to the Boise River and the Eagle Greenbelt. Here’s what made it special: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Feedback from Eagle residents shaped the final design, ensuring the parking lot meets local needs. 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲: The design addressed floodplain constraints, wetlands, and incorporated sustainable grading practices. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: ADA-compliant stalls and safe road access make the lot welcoming and functional for all visitors. This parking lot might be small, but its impact is anything but. It’s a gateway to nature, a model of thoughtful design, and a reflection of HECO Engineers’ commitment to excellence. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? Let’s talk about how thoughtful engineering can elevate your next project.

Nothing better than seeing your amazingly talented friends driving impact close to home. So exciting to see Chad Brintnall Michael Johnson Bethanie Martin work to Energize Erie's parks! “These types of activities are looking to promote activity in its core, which is great for not only downtown but the city and the larger region. As we look to bring life back into post-industrial cities, it is these types of things that improve people’s quality of life in the place".... https://lnkd.in/e-a4gEpu

Public spaces can enhance city living dramatically. When utilised correctly public spaces can become escapes from the busy and noisy urban environment. In this week's blog, we've reviewed a few case studies that have enhanced the city experience by creating areas to escape. https://lnkd.in/ePCCUgeb

Learn more about the proposal to extend the existing Logan Square Boulevards Historic District.

These are the tallest buildings in Orlando. Here’s how high they rise